When the early 19th century townhouse at 54 MacDougal Street in SoHo bit the dust, preservationists were outraged. However, YIMBY has new renderings of the project replacing the 1820 structure, and the design seems to fit in well with the rest of the pre-war block.
The new building will rise five stories and hold just four condos. Since the development will span 8,457 square feet, the typical apartment will measure a spacious 2,114 square feet.
Designed by Building Studio Architects, 54 MacDougal will be clad in attractive patterned brick and feature large, loft-style windows. Here’s how the architects describe the exterior:
“[Brick] dogtooths, corbels, reveals and rustications, radiused corners and varied bond settings rely on shadow and texture to give the façade depth and detail, fitting in seamlessly with its more animated traditional neighbors. Steel bar balconies, canopy and planters give the façade further texture and detail, recalling the ubiquitous fire escapes nearby. Ample glazing recalls steel industrial windows and artists’ studio windows that abound in the neighborhood.”
The overall look is attractive and strikes a decent balance between traditional and modern design. The first floor apartment will be a duplex with a lower level in the cellar that leads out onto a private “sunken” backyard. Three floor-through two-bedrooms will follow, topped by a four-bedroom triplex with a private roof deck.
The house that occupied the lot until 2014 was built on land owned by Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the United States. It also appeared as a jewelry store in the climactic scene of the first “Men in Black” movie in 1997.
The developers are Ajax Partners and Valyrian Capital. Ajax’s LLC scooped up the historic property for the cheap-seeming price of $4,300,000 in 2012.
54 MacDougal Street, rendering by Building Studio Architects
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With a lot of color brick, gaze out of the outside cheerful the public when first looking.
Aaron Burr was never Secretary of the Treasury. Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first Secretary of the Treasury by George Washington in 1789. Burr never held the post.
oh you’re right! that’s embarassing, i’ll fix.
How did they get away with this? I thought macdougal st was historically preserved?
only the west side of macdougal is in a landmark district. the east side of the street (where this house was located) is not.
Entire sliver of R.E. from Mercer St. to 6th Ave, Houston to Broome St. ( The “South Village”) has been the object of ongoing battle between local residents and GVSHP vs. the Money Interests for years, thru Bloomberg, DiBlasio, Quinn, Viverito. The R.E. interests always prevail, and that area remains un-landmarked and open for the “feast”.